Politics

A 39-year-old driver, who is alleged to have poured acid on a security guard, has been arrested by the police, 10 months after going into hiding.

The suspect, Peter Torvinyaku, is said to have committed the act in the company of Samuel Gyasi Obeng, who is currently on the run.

They are alleged to have attacked the victim, Simon Aduko, for failing to make known his views on the 2012 election petition when the case was being heard at the Supreme Court.

Aduko's face, chest and arms have been deformed.

Comment on election petition

Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Greater Accra Regional Police Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Mr Paul Kontomah, said the incident happened about 4 p.m. on August 8, 2013 when the victim had been assigned to weed a parcel of land belonging to one of his superiors at Okponglo, near Legon in Accra.

He said while Aduko was executing his assignment, the two suspects, on board a taxi, approached him and asked for his views on the election petition which was then being heard at the Supreme Court and telecast live.

"The complainant retorted that they should leave him alone and let peace prevail in the country," he said.

However, the Regional Crime Officer said, that statement by Aduko did not go down well with Torvinyaku and his accomplice, who left the scene immediately.

"Within some few hours, the suspects, on board the same taxi, returned to the scene and alighted from the car, with Obeng holding a Milo tin," he said.

The two, according to Mr Kontomah, engaged Aduko in an argument to declare his stand on the election petition but he asked them to leave the scene.

"That provoked them and they poured the acid which was in the container on Aduko in turns," he said.

IDs left behind

While shouting for help, Aduko, who was in severe pains, managed to grab Obeng's trousers in an attempt to arrest him.

Torvinyaku had already taken to his heels.

Due to the blinding effect of the acid which had been poured on Aduko, Obeng was able to overpower Aduko and escaped with the container.

Some Good Samaritans, who were passing by, rushed the victim to the Police Hospital where he was admitted for medical attention.

Later, Obeng's voter Identification card, with number 2237038654, and a National Health Insurance identification card, with number 8800554, were found at the scene, having dropped during the scuffle with Aduko.

The crime officer said on June 11, 2014, Aduko spotted Torvinyaku at Kwabenya and quickly alerted the police, leading to his arrest.